Thursday, September 29, 2011

Life List #14: Train and Run in a Race

Over the summer, I started the Couch to 5K running program. Three times a week, I would go out and train myself to run long distance. I remember back to the very beginning when I thought I would literally fall over dead after running three minutes.

I'm not going to lie. It was hard. I have never been a runner. In fact, even after completing the C25K program, I still don't consider myself a runner. I actually hate running. Running hates me.

When I put this goal on my Life List, I knew it would be difficult to achieve. I don't have a whole lot of self-motivation when it comes to that type of thing. What I needed was a running buddy. I got one and she quit. Actually, a lot of people I know that have started the C25K program have quit. That, in itself, was motivation enough for me.

So I trained.

In the summer.

In triple-digit temperatures.

I would come home after running and always go to Jaden's room to stand in front of the fan. She would ask me about running and talk to me about my race. Every night, she would tell me good job. She would tell me that she wanted to come watch me run my race and win my medal.

September came. The race was here. I woke up early in the morning on the 24th, preparing myself for the four miles that were to come. I left the house with mini-goals; I wanted to make it to the one-mile marker without stopping, walk for about a minute, run to the next mile marker, walk for a minute, run to mile three, walk for a minute, and then cross the finish line running. My goal was a 12-minute mile; finishing around 48 minutes.

I stood in the corrals waiting for the race to start. I was excited and nervous! Could I do it?

I had looked at the course map ahead of time. I knew that the first mile was a straight run. Before I knew it, I had approached mile marker 2! I had missed the first mile marker and ran the entire first half of the race! I walked for about 30 seconds and then took off again.

I ran for the majority of the race, stopping to walk only a couple of times for about 30 seconds each.

I called Mike after I passed the third mile marker to let him know to watch for me; I was almost there!

As I ran up to the stadium, I looked for my family in the stands.

I saw them! They were yelling and cheering me on! To see them smiling and screaming my name totally made it all worth it.

I was almost there...

I did it, you guys! I ran four miles!

My official stats:
Overall Place: 757 out of 2838
Division Place (age): 56 out of 227
Gender Place: 399 out of 1983
Time: 46:38
Pace: 11:40

I was in the top 20% in my gender, the top 25% in my age, and the top 27% overall! I am so proud of my accomplishment.

I finished. I did not quit.

﻿The best part was seeing Jaden's eyes light up when I showed her my medal.